New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Albany County

Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

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East Avenue sidepath (Monroe County Sidepaths, 1899) Sidepaths were constructed for bicycles in the 1890sAs the 1890s took New York State toward a new century, the use of the bicycle for recreation by both the young and old was sweeping the country. One reason for this growth was the development of a safer, easier-to-ride machine with a smaller front wheel than the earlier high-wheeled bicycles.

Other advances in the development of the bicycle at this time were pneumatic tires and a chain drive that further eliminated the need for the large front tire. [Read more…] about Side Paths: New York State’s 1890s Bike Trail Network

Albany Underground Railroad Center Receives $2 Million Grant

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myers houseA $2 million state grant will help launch the expansion of the Underground Railroad Education Center (UREC), which is currently housed in the former 19th-century home of Black abolitionists Harriet and Stephen Myers, a onetime stop on the Underground Railroad located in Albany‘s Arbor Hill neighborhood. [Read more…] about Albany Underground Railroad Center Receives $2 Million Grant

Public Comments Sought On Albany I-787 Reimaging Project

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Albany I-787 DOT ProjectNew York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is hosting a public open house related to the new planning and environmental study of I-787 on Tuesday, June 27, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm in the media room of MVP Arena in downtown Albany.

The study to re-imagine the I-787 corridor, taking into account its proximity to the Hudson River, is at the center of local efforts to re-imagine the former Albany Basin by the Albany Waterway Canal Project. [Read more…] about Public Comments Sought On Albany I-787 Reimaging Project

Albany’s Philip Schuyler Statue Removed From City Hall

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Philip Schuyler Statue being removed from Albany City Hall in June 2023A statue of Philip J. Schuyler (1733-1804) has been removed from outside of Albany’s City Hall. Mayor Kathy Sheehan ordered the statue removed in 2020 because Schuyler was a slaveholder. Sheehan said at the time that removing the statue was one way to acknowledge the enduring legacy of slavery. [Read more…] about Albany’s Philip Schuyler Statue Removed From City Hall

Caring for Albany’s Poor: Some History

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Albany County Almshouse in 1932Albany, New York’s Dutch Church started a “Poor Fund,” probably shortly after the arrival of Dominie Johannes Megapolensis (1603–1670) in 1642. Disbursements were being made from the fund by 1647. Albany’s Patroon, Dutch merchants and others contributed to the collections of the church and the church in turn was made contributions to support the community’s impoverished residents. [Read more…] about Caring for Albany’s Poor: Some History

Hudson Valley Greenway Map Goes Digital

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Greenway Trail System MapThe Hudson River Valley Greenway has launched an online, interactive Greenway Trail System Map to illustrate and highlight the network of designated Greenway trails throughout the Hudson Valley. The map includes nearly 1,000 miles of designated land trails and over 115 designated water trail sites along the 256-mile Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. [Read more…] about Hudson Valley Greenway Map Goes Digital

Marquis de Lafayette at Albany During the Revolution

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George Washington and Lafayette at Mount Vernon, 1784 by Rossiter and Mignot, 1859Just prior to victory of American colonists at the Battles of Saratoga, the Continental Congress replaced Major General Philip Schuyler as Commander of the Northern Army with General Horatio Gates. Many colonial military units from New England had been reluctant to assist at Saratoga to serve under a “Dutch commander” but readily reported to serve under the English-born Gates. [Read more…] about Marquis de Lafayette at Albany During the Revolution

Multiple Upstate NY Wildfires Keep Rangers Busy

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Aftermath of the wildland fire in Blenheim in mid-May 2023 (provided by DEC)New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers were kept busy last week suppressing numerous wildfires around New York State as very dry conditions persisted and drove the Fire Danger to HIGH.   Fires were reported in at least five towns in four counties, including in Clinton, Sullivan, Schoharie, and Albany Counties. The fires burned about 50 acres total including a large 30-acre fire that burned ion the town of Black Brook, Clinton County, for two days.  At least two fires were caused by illegal debris burning despite the high danger for fire spread.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Multiple Upstate NY Wildfires Keep Rangers Busy

Albany’s Abraham Ten Broeck: A Short Biography

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Abraham Ten Broeck portrait by John Roberts circa 1796-1800Abraham Ten Broeck was born in 1734 to Dirck Ten Broeck (1686-1751) and Margarita Cuyler (1682–1783). Abraham was one of twelve children born to the couple. Abraham first-generation grandfather had come to America from Holland in 1626 on the same ship with Peter Minuit, the first Director General of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. [Read more…] about Albany’s Abraham Ten Broeck: A Short Biography

New Yorkers Serving in Alaska Territory, 1908-1910

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Schmitter_divorceWhile transcribing Alaska Territory records for the National Archives, I noticed two interesting men who were working with the native tribes. A little research revealed they were both from New York State. Here are their stories. [Read more…] about New Yorkers Serving in Alaska Territory, 1908-1910